Smoker s lighter reflector means



l 1967 c. H. BRAMSON 3,344,266

SMOKER'S LIGHTER REFLECTOR MEANS Filed Oct. 5, 1965 s BY: 24% 2 20 FIG.4. 24"

FIG.5.

INVENTOR Clive H. Bromson United States Patent 3,344,266 SMGKERS LIGHTER REFLECTOR MEANS Clive H. Bramson, 1 Bay St., Oyster Bay, N.Y. 11771 Filed Oct. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 493,055 6 Claims. (Cl. 240-11) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A smokers lighter having a reflector member connected thereto whereby said member is arranged spacedly with respect to the flame of the smokers lighter to thereby direct the reflection of the flames illumination.

This invention relates to lighters for cigarettes and the like and more particularly to the utilization of such lighters for illumination as well as for igniting smokers articles.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a smokers lighter with a reflective element which will be combined therewith at all times but which may be positioned for use as required.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a reflective element for a lighter which will further serve to shield the illumination from the eyes of the user.

Other objects of the instant invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the structure defined and pointed out in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates the embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cigarette lighter showing the reflective element superposed on one side thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the cigarette lighter showing the reflective element slidably moved into operative position with respect to the wick of the lighter;

FIGURE 3 is an isolated plan view of an embodiment of the reflective element;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the reflective element showing a concave reflective portion thereof;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the invention wherein the reflective element is capable of assuming a concave form when moved away from the side of the lighter;

FIGURE 6 is a view of the reflective element taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a modification of the invention showing the reflector element incorporated with the cover of the lighter.

It will be understood that the foregoing accompanying illustrations are merely exemplary and explanatory but are not intended to limit the many other forms of the device which fall within the contemplation of this invention.

Referring now in detail to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawing, the combination of a conventional cigarette lighter and reflector means Will be seen designated generally by numeral 1. Reflector means or reflective element 2 is preferably a flat metal plate slidably superposed over a side 4 of the cigarette lighter, fastening means such as rivet 6 being utilizable as shown to fasten said reflective element to said side 4, slot 8 in said metal .plate serving as a guide or track enabling such slidable movement while "ice retaining a connective relation between said lighter and said reflector means.

In the embodiment shown, reflective element 2 is substantially congruous with respect to side 4 of the lighter whereby the width and height of the rectangular plate 2 is substantially the same width and height of said rectangular side 4.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, plate 2, when slid upwardly across side 4, permits a portion 10 thereof to be positioned spacedly and adjacently with respect to the wick 12 of the lighter, said portion 10 thereby functioning as a reflector to reflect the illumination emitted by flame 14 in a desired direction as indicated by arrows 16 which illustrate the directed rays of light.

Reflective portion 10 is preferably a polished or other suitably formed reflecting surface. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawing, said reflective portion 10 of ele- Inent 2 may be concave of character whereby the reflected light will be further concentrated to thereby increase the effectiveness of the device.

In FIGURES 5 and 6 wherein a modification of the invention is shown, reflective element 20 will be seen to comprise upper and lower ends 22 and 24, respectively. Said element where shown in solid line has been slid or otherwise moved upwardly with respect to side 4 of the lighter. As observed, the upper portion of said element which is not contiguous with side 4 has curved to provide a concave reflective surface 26 as shown in FIGURE 6. When fully contiguous with the side 4 as shown in broken line, said reflective element is flat.

It will be understood that to assume the concave form as previously described, the reflective element 20 may be prestressed whereby it will be normally curved or represent a section of a wall of a cylinder but when contiguously held against the side 4 of the lighter by rivet 6, e.g., it will become flat as shown. An alternate but suitable method of achieving the curved form when moved upwardly with respect to the lighter is to form the flat reflective plate of thermally responsive bimetallic material. Thus, the portion of said plate moved into proximity with respect to the flame of the lighter will, due to greater expansion of the outer layer of the material relative to the inner layer thereof, curve to provide the desired concave reflective surface 26.

It will be understood that the lighter may be of the gaseous fuel type or the wick type as shown and the reflector means as described herein may be otherwise suitably shaped and may be fastened to the lighter in any other suitable manner such as pivotal, e.g., and fastened to that portion of the side of the lighter included in cover 30 as is reflector means 32 shown in FIGURE 7.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighter for cigarettes and the like, the combination comprised of reflector means and a smokers lighter, said smokers lighter having a flame-region and sparkproducing means for igniting the fuel at said region, said reflector means having a highly reflective surface and being connected to said lighter, said reflector means being positionable whereby at least a portion thereof is spacedly adjacent with respect to the flame to thereby direct and reflect the flames illumination.

2. In a lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reflector means is slidably superposed with respect to a side of said lighter.

3. In a lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shape and size of said reflector means is substantially congruous with respect to a side of said lighter.

4. In a lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reflector means includes a concave reflecting portion.

5. In a lighter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reflector means is comprised of a prestressed normally 3 4 curved plate, said at least a portion thereof being biased References Cited into flat form when superposed with respect to said side UNITED STATES PATENTS of said .li hter 2,494,886 1/1950 Leif 2406.4 6. In a lighter as set forth in claim 1 WhvI'ClIl said re- 3,244,872 4/1966 McCormick flector means is formed of thermally responsive bime- 5 tallic material, said at least a portion thereof being capa- NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examinen ble of curving when heated by the flame to provide a concave reflective surface. W. M. FRYE, ASSISHZIZI Examzner. 

1. IN A LIGHTER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISED OF REFLECTOR MEANS AND A SMOKER''S LIGHTER, SAID SMOKER''S LIGHER HAVING A FLAME-REGION AND SPARKPRODUCING MEANS FOR IGNITING THE FUEL AT SAID REGION, SAID REFLECTOR MEANS HAVING A HIGHLY REFLECTIVE SURFACE AND BEING CONNECTED TO SAID LIGHTER, SAID REFLECTOR MEANS BEING POSITIONABLE WHEREBY AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF IS SPACED ADJACENT WITH RESPECT TO THE FLAME TO THEREBY DIRECT AND DEFLECT THE FLAME''S ILLUMINATION. 